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BPU warns customers about phone scam

By Jeffrey Field

Published On: Oct 14 2013 11:05:43 AM CDT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -

The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities is warning customers about a phone scam targeting electric customers.

The scam, which has been reported in Kansas, Missouri and 15 other states, involves callers claiming to be representing a utility company. The caller threatens to cut off service if the customer doesn't make an immediate payment.

The caller tells the target of the scam to purchase credit for a prepaid card and then make that account information available for a follow-up call later in the day.

BPU said the scammers are using a practice known as "spoofing" to make the utility's name appear on the customers' caller ID display.

BPU Chief Communications Officer David Mehlhaff said he's had reports from several customers who have received these types of calls. He said they should not give out any sort of personal information to someone who calls.

"We urge all who are contacted to call their utility before providing any type of payment to any such request," he said. "Any customers who receive such a call should not attempt to make any payment and should instead contact their utility’s customer service department."

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